As early as 1626, bakers, gingerbread makers, and confectioners set up festive stalls on Graben and Brandstätte, near Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The tradition continued through the centuries, moving between locations. During the 1980s, Christmas markets began spreading to other parts of the city. Today, Viennese residents still visit them to buy gifts for loved ones, choose decorations, or meet friends for hot chocolate and mulled wine.
The first Christmas markets in Vienna this year open on November 6. Some close before Christmas, while Schönbrunn and the winter market in the Prater stay open until January 6. Below, the markets are listed by opening date, with their locations, public transport connections, and what makes each one worth visiting.
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IN THIS ARTICLE
Christmas Markets by Opening Dates
Palace courtyards, neighborhood streets, and city squares — each market has its own setting.
The market fills the large courtyard in front of Schönbrunn Palace. In addition to handicrafts and Christmas decorations, it offers an ice rink, lanes for ice stock sport (Eisstockschießen), and activities for children. The palace setting and long season make it stand out among Vienna’s Christmas markets.
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The stalls stand beside St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the city center. The focus is on Austrian products and traditional gifts. A visit fits easily into a walk through Graben and Kärntner Straße.
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Here, you can combine the Advent market with a Christmas exhibition in the greenhouses, prepared by Vienna’s municipal gardeners. Floral decorations and festive displays are its main attraction. Opening hours are Thursday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with additional opening days on December 7 and 8.
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This market continues the tradition of Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt, which changed locations several times over the centuries. It has been held at Rathausplatz since 1975. The illuminated City Hall, large Christmas tree, and skating paths through Rathauspark are its most recognizable features.
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From one market to the next
The Vienna City Card combines public transport within Vienna’s city fare zone with discounts at participating attractions, restaurants, and shops. It can be useful if you plan to visit several markets and use the discounts during your stay.
The focus here is on handmade items, artwork, and gifts. The stalls offer jewelry, ceramics, and Christmas decorations. Freyung is nearby, so you can visit both markets during the same walk.
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Art Advent is a market for people who enjoy art and handicrafts. Artists and craftspeople exhibit in front of Karlskirche, while the program includes workshops, installations, and music. All food on offer is certified organic.
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Spittelberg began as a place where local artists and craftspeople sold their work. It continues that tradition with handicrafts, jewelry, ceramics, and original gifts. The stalls stretch through narrow streets between old houses, so visiting feels more like walking through a neighborhood than exploring one large square.
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The market in the courtyard of Vienna’s former General Hospital is now a popular meeting place for students and friends. A children’s train and carousel also make it appealing to families. Its setting within the university campus gives it a different atmosphere from the markets on the city’s large squares.
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New for 2026, Weihnachtszauber brings Christmas stalls to the area around the large Hochstrahlbrunnen fountain. Light installations and a stage program have been announced for its first season.
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The market is set among the trees, so you can combine a visit with a walk through the park. Alongside handicrafts and food, the organizer has announced live music and children’s carousels. St. Nicholas visits on December 5 to hand out sweets to children.
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The Altwiener Christkindlmarkt keeps its traditional focus, with nativity scenes, glass ornaments, ceramics, and other handicrafts, accompanied by Advent music. Although Freyung is associated with the older history of Vienna’s Christmas markets, today’s Altwiener market began at Michaelerplatz in 1987 and moved here after two seasons.
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This market stands between the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum. After a break, it returns in 2026 with a new concept. You can combine a visit with one of the museums or a walk toward the Hofburg.
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This year’s K&K market connects its Christmas offerings with Austria’s imperial past. The palace and its park provide a distinctive Baroque backdrop. For 2026, it has been announced under the name K&K Weihnachtsmarkt Belvedere.
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The Prater’s Wintermarkt focuses on entertainment and live music. You can combine a visit with the amusement park’s attractions, and the market stays open after New Year’s Day.